A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that maintaining healthy sleep habits in midlife and older adults correlates with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Conducted by researchers using data from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort in China, the study sheds light on the importance of sleep patterns in cardiovascular health.

The study, spanning from 2008 to 2018, involved 15,306 individuals with an average age of 66, with 58% female and 42% male participants. Findings showed that 36% had persistently unfavorable sleep patterns, while 26% maintained favorable sleep patterns throughout the study period.

Over nearly five years of follow-up, 3,669 participants experienced cardiovascular disease, including 2,986 cases of coronary heart disease and 683 cases of stroke. Those with persistent favorable sleep patterns exhibited a significantly lower risk of new-onset cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke compared to those with unfavorable sleep patterns.

Notably, the study found that genetic risk for cardiovascular disease did not alter these associations. However, changes in sleep patterns combined with genetic risk were jointly associated with coronary heart disease and stroke risk in a dose-dependent manner.

The study evaluated sleep patterns based on bedtime, sleep duration, quality, midday napping, and genetic risk scores for heart disease. It emphasized the urgent need to identify modifiable risk factors for preventing cardiovascular disease, given its substantial global burden.

While previous studies have linked sleep with cardiovascular health, this research highlights the importance of examining sleep patterns over time, as habits may change. Despite prior research indicating the benefits of healthy sleep patterns, this study focused on older individuals, suggesting a need for further research in this demographic.

Moreover, lifestyle and genetic factors play crucial roles in heart health, with healthy lifestyles lowering the risk of heart disease even among those at high genetic risk. The study underscores the importance of understanding the interplay between sleep patterns and genetic factors in cardiovascular disease risk.

Chelsey Borson, a sleep expert not involved in the study, emphasized the profound impact of sleep on overall health, particularly heart health. Borson highlighted the link between inadequate sleep and increased risks of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart attacks, emphasizing sleep's role in regulating cardiovascular function.

The study underscores the significance of maintaining healthy sleep habits, particularly in older adults, for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and promoting overall heart health.